RALEIGH, NC (AP) -- Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue says Republicans leading the Legislature need to repair spending cuts in public education or North Carolina's school children will face the consequences of even fewer classroom instructors.

Perdue called on House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate leader Phil Berger on Monday to join her in fashioning a plan to make up for spending reductions in the budget approved last year. There's another $330 million in additional cuts or expiring federal funds projected for the coming year.

The governor made her request as she starts two weeks of public appearances to talk about the public schools.

Republicans say Perdue's solution to raise sales taxes is essentially dead on arrival at the Legislature. The GOP takes issue with her characterization that the budget slashed education jobs.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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